For some perspective on the stock market, today’s chart presents the Dow divided by the price of one ounce of gold. This results in what is referred to as the Dow / gold ratio or the cost of the Dow in ounces of gold. For example, it currently takes 9.0 ounces of gold to “buy the Dow.” This is considerably less (80% less) than the 44.8 ounces it took to buy the Dow back in 1999. While the actual Dow currently trades significantly higher than its March 9, 2009 lows (currently up 60%), the most recent rally that occurred in the Dow priced in gold is fairly similar to several bear market rallies that have occurred since late 1999. It is also of interest that the Dow (priced in gold) is once again testing resistance of its accelerated downtrend.
